:Irrational.: Soundwave told his dearest friend and Minicon. The avian's nervousness relieved, but his embarrassment was still strong.

         :I know,: he sighed through their bond, :but we've been together for so long, and (Y/N)'s a wonderful femme but I wasn't sure if you were comfortable with having a master and servant bond in common.:

     The mech merely sent a wave of amusement, and the assurance that if Laserbeak wished to have a master and servant bond with (Y/N), then he need not ask. However, Soundwave was glad his oldest friend held their relationship so close to his spark. It was a warming feeling to know he was the first thought on the Minicon's mind.

         :Soundwave,: Megatron ground out through the comm-link, :The Autobot medic is awake. I want both you and (Y/N) to greet him with me.:

     It was likely the Autobot would receive quite the shock, and Soundwave believed it rather foolish to reveal (Y/N)'s identity when they were trying to earn Ratchet's interest to help rebuild the Omega Lock. Then again, perhaps it did not matter. Ratchet had known Megatron almost as long as Optimus and would not be so easily persuaded through cheap lies and trickery. It may just be desperation to go home that makes the old mech comply.

     Sending a message to (Y/N), Soundwave informed her of where they needed to meet just outside the cell holding their honored guest (as Megatron would mockingly put it). He stepped from the computer terminal and strode down the halls, frowning when the quickest path was blocked by Vehicons. They were likely gossiping by their fanciful gestures and slow plodding. A useless past time. Turning down a different corridor, Soundwave caught a snippet of what they were speaking of from the echoes in the hall. Something about Megatron taking a liking to (Y/N).

         Soundwave rolled his unseen optics. What an absurd notion.

     He arrived at the door to Ratchet's large cell. It was really just the underbelly of the war ship, but the medic didn't know that. Not many Autobots had the honor of a tour either, which Megatron was planning. (Y/N) arrived in just the same manner, both facing their leader, who stared at them before looking to Starscream as he strode closer with his usual pomp. Megatron hummed his satisfaction before turning to the door and they all entered in single file.

         "Ratchet," Megatron stepped in first, "a pleasure to see you well."

         "To bad I can't say the same." He grumped, earning a low chuckle from his enemy. Ratchet watched as Starscream stepped to the side, glaring harshly at Soundwave, his optics widening as the mech appeared to split in two. "What-"

         "Ah, yes, you never got to see our little magic trick." Megatron grinned threateningly. "Isn't it exquisite? Two completely different beings coming together in perfect synchronization. Their very lives, they now share."

     (Y/N) smiled softly behind her visor, (E/C) gaze soaking in the confused expression of the medic who had taken such a begrudging liking to the human species. At least he begrudgingly grew to like the three children and Fowler, perhaps June as well. His bright cyan gaze flicked from her and Soundwave to Megatron, angry glare waiting for an answer to the war lord's riddling. The Decepticon leader hummed his amusement as Ratchet felt lost as to what he meant.

         "I'd say you've forgotten about her, but I'm sure it's difficult to forget someone you failed to save."

     Ratchet's expression fell, and stared back at the two, unsure which to stare at until he noticed Laserbeak on the right's chassis. He stared at the femme with the barren chassis, intake slack but flopping as he tried to form words.

         "(Y/N)?"

         -/Hello/- She answered through a recording, her voice nearly bringing the mech to tears.

         "Megatron you're a monster. Release (Y/N) this instant, or Primus help me-"

         "Release her?" The bigger mech bellowed a monstrous laugh that filled the room with an explosive roar. Ratchet flinched. "She was never a prisoner. Perhaps once, she could have been and maybe she was held captive in her human body. My dear medic, (Y/N) was with us from the very beginning."

     Soundwave procured the video footage of (Y/N) on her mountain, the horrendous lenses and the replacing of. Ratchet watched as she was held in Soundwave's servo. He watched her fly by security cameras on Laserbeak's back and lie to Orion as she did to the whole of the Autobot team. Ratchet watched Megatron himself hold the fleshling, speaking to C.Y.L.A.S. and condemning him to eternal torture under Knockout's care. This couldn't be the plant loving woman the Autobot team knew, and Ratchet refused to believe it.

         "No, it is not passed you to create false footage. You've brainwashed her and turned (Y/N) into some sick experiment!"

         -/:(Y/N) to Soundwave. You will soon receive an Autobot with an important project. Extract it from him when there is a chance. Over and out.:/-*

     Faking a recording was a bit difficult, especially one with video footage of Ratchet under the influence of Synthetic Energon. (Y/N)'s sweet smile was hidden from the medic, who stared at her with a betrayed and crushed expression.

         "We were prepared for you then," Megatron stepped closer to the torn medic, "we are prepared for you now. You're going to finish the Synthetic Energon formula that we have since built upon after your generous donation."

         "And you really think I'd just give you an infinite supply of energon for you to use against us Autobots? I don't think so." Ratchet sneered, stepping back from the towering titan.

         "You misunderstand, Ratchet. I don't want the formula finished to destroy, but rather, to create!" The silver mech stepped back, giving their prisoner room as he further explained his reasoning for bot-napping the other. "We've found that the combination of the famous Synth-En and the Cyber Nucleic Acid solution created by Shockwave produces a possible means to create Cyber Matter. However, it is unstable. The finishing of this formula may allow it to be harnessed and revive Cybertron."

     Ratchet's expression changed throughout his speech but rested on a guarded hatred. He remained silent, taking another step back for good measure. Megatron frowned.

         "Think on it, good doctor." The titan suggested soberly. "(Y/N) will bring your ration of energon to you before the day is out. Won't you?"

     The femme nodded, everyone watching as Laserbeak unfolded himself from Soundwave's chassis and attached to hers. It was certainly an odd sight, seeing the drone switch from one to the other so willingly.

     The first to leave was Megatron, secondly being Starscream and last being the doubles as they turned in perfect unison, both feeling the hatred filled stare that held the potential to burn holes in their back struts. (Y/N) brushed her lover's servo when the door closed, earning a twitch in return. 

         "(Y/N), I want you to take Predaking his own ration as well." Megatron informed. "The Vehicons are afraid of him, and nearly everyone else is far busier." A hilarious point considering (Y/N) had just as much to do as Soundwave, but she would not argue. A few extra ground bridges within the day wouldn't hurt much. She made note to lessen her energon usage that day. "Can you do this?"

     The femme merely nodded, still walking steadily behind. She admitted to herself that the question made it sound as if he did not trust her ability to take on extra tasks. Soundwave seemed to be a little irked by his leader's questioning as well as his gate stiffened. (Y/N) brushed his servo again, and he relaxed. It most likely would not be the first time her abilities would be put in question, whether to test her patience or otherwise. 

     (Y/N) had to separate from her lover as they passed a corridor, the femme turning with Laserbeak still firmly attached to her chassis. His foreign weight was beginning to become a natural feeling and thankfully he was already a natural sight. Vehicons passed by quickly, questioning which one of the two it was who interrupted their already monitored conversations. The femme was not as wary of crowds as Soundwave was, preferring to reach her destinations in the quickest time possible. Laserbeak purred as another small group passed with hushed whispers. Not that it mattered, (Y/N) still heard their strange theories. 

         She wondered if they had anything better to do besides gossip.

     As soon as she arrived at the energon storage, the femme left, a large ration held in one of her appendages. She wasn't as prone to use them as Soundwave was, still being unfamiliar with essentially having more than two arms. Their mechanics were still odd, but they were helpful, and allowed for more distance between her and Predaking as she offered the ration to him.

         "Thank you." He nodded, watching as the silent 'Con turned. "You are (Y/N), then." He noted her quickly changing smell, which morphed with Soundwave's, creating a unique scent. However, it was becoming nearly impossible to tell the two apart anymore.

     Halting her retreat, said femme nodded, not caring to turn back to face the creature.

         "I find it interesting that we are similar, but not the same, as you are to Soundwave." She was still silent, hoping he would finish his short observance. "What draws you to him so? Other than your appearance, I see no other reason for your connection to be so strong."

     She only continued her walk from the landing deck of the Nemesis to the belly of the war ship. His question was odd, though not out of character as he was a rather inquisitive mech. He observed things not many would, but he was also naïve, proven solely by the destruction of his brethren and his blind belief that the Decepticons had done all they could to possibly save them. This question did not bother the once human femme, as she knew very well what drew her to Soundwave.

     He was quiet, gentle, listens, understands, firm and unmoving in his beliefs. Soundwave was what (Y/N) wished she could have had in her younger, human days. Someone like him may have led her to avoid M.E.C.H. But who was she kidding, she wouldn't give what she had now for the world. Besides, Megatron was likely to Cyberform Earth anyway. She gave away her puny human life for two worlds.

* A quote from Chapter 17